BS&T Bowl Predictions, Week 13

Who am I going to jinx next? The announcement the BCS has been waiting for. My bowl predictions…

BCS #1

BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

BCS #2

West Virginia

Ohio State

It’s simple: I think West Virginia will handle Pitt. I think Missouri will struggle with Oklahoma. I know Ohio State isn’t going to lose, because it isn’t going to play. This sets up a pretty unappealing BCS title game. I’ll buy West Virginia, but Ohio State really slumped in its last two games — losing to Illinois and struggling offensively against Michigan. I’m not buying the Buckeyes as one of the two best teams in the nation. Plus, it will be tough to pitch a Big East-Big Ten final.

At-Large #1

ROSE BOWL

Pac-10 Champion

Georgia

Southern Cal

More than likely, there won’t be a sure-shot top pick in the available at-large pool for the Rose Bowl to replace Ohio State. Georgia isn’t playing in the SEC championship game, but it very well could be the best team in that conference right now. Plus, it will finish in the top four of the BCS standings, at worst. Not an ideal situation for the tradition-rich Rose Bowl, but Georgia might be the best team that didn’t win a conference title.

ACC Champion

ORANGE BOWL

At-Large #2

Virginia Tech

Missouri

Virginia Tech is going to beat Boston College to claim the Orange Bowl spot, and truth be told, the Hokies are probably better than Ohio State right now. Believe me, I’m rooting for Mizzou to take down Oklahoma on Saturday because I think it has earned the right to go to the title game. But if the Tigers can’t get past the Sooners, they’ll make for a very intriguing opponent for the defensive-minded Hokies.

Big 12 Champion

FIESTA BOWL

At-Large #3

Oklahoma

Arizona State

This will be the most interesting selection of the BCS “draft.” I think Tennessee will lose the SEC title game to LSU, which should push Illinois ahead of the Vols and into 14th. Assuming Arizona State gets by Arizona this weekend — which is still a big if –the Fiesta Bowl will have three choices: the Pac-10 runner-up Sun Devils, the Big Ten darling Illini, or Hawai’i. If any bowl is going to take a chance on the “mid-major” at-large, it’s the Fiesta Bowl, which got a classic game from Boise State and Oklahoma last year. I think they’ll go with the Sun Devils because 1.) they’ll draw a huge home crowd, and 2.) what do they do to the Big 12 champ if another WAC team comes into the Fiesta Bowl and beats them?

SEC Champion

SUGAR BOWL

At-Large #4

Louisiana State

Hawai’i

I love this match-up. Hawai’i very well might get blown to smithereens by the faster, stronger Bayou Bengals, but the Warriors have a system that LSU might find worrisome. And lets face it, the vaunted Tigers D hasn’t been all that great this season. Sugar Bowl picks last and will have no choice but to take the Warriors if they don’t falter this weekend against Washington.

Big Ten #2

Capital One Bowl

SEC #2

Illinois

Florida is creeping closer and closer to BCS consideration. But the only way the Gators don’t get into this game is if Tennessee beats LSU and the Tigers get this game. Zook vs. FireRonZook.com is starting to look pretty good, though.

Florida

Big Ten #3

Outback Bowl

SEC #4

Wisconsin

Funny that all the talk revolved around whether the Outback would take Penn State a second year in a row, and it ends up that Tennessee can go back.

Tennessee

Big Ten #4

Alamo Bowl

Big 12#5

Michigan

Strange Alamo matchup between the disappointing Wolverines and the last of the six eligible teams out of the Big 12 with seven wins.

Texas A&M

Big Ten #5

Champs Sports Bowl

ACC #4

Penn State

Virginia

Penn State’s only hope of avoiding Orlando on Dec. 28 is Illinois getting a BCS selection — which will be near impossible if Arizona State or Hawai’i don’t lose. So, my prediction is that we get treated to the battle of the Stupar brothers.

Big Ten #6

Insight Bowl

Big 12#6

Indiana

The Hoosiers seem to be a lock for one of the last two open spots, and the Insight Bowl isn’t a bad destination.

Oklahoma State

Big Ten #7

Motor City Bowl

MAC#1

Michigan State

Comes down to the Spartans and Purdue. Have to like Michigan State, which ended its season strong.

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